Are catholics allowed to be cremated?

[Seeker1961]

Do what you know is right for your Mom unless you will be dealing with resistance from other family members,I think in this case not carrying out your mother’s wishes,would be the correct option,

But is that in some way not honoring her? Or lying? If I tell her now that I’ll respect her wishes, then do what I feel is right after she passes-how is that right?

 

[Sirach2]

But is that in some way not honoring her? Or lying? If I tell her now that I’ll respect her wishes, then do what I feel is right after she passes-how is that right?

I faced this, too. My family member made me promise not to have a viewing but to cremate him immediately. However, his grandson had just come home from Iraq and had not seen him in a few years. For his sake, and other personal reasons, I decided to have a brief viewing just for immediate family and then cremate him as he asked. I was vehemently denounced by those who thought I did not honor his wishes, but once he leaves this earth, the body is separated from his real self. I felt justified in honoring the grieving living family members. Who could have known that when I made my promise years prior to his death, that other absent family members would find comfort in seeing him for a last remembrance?

In your mom’s case, would she want you to commit a sin in order to honor her wishes? You may need to explain the Church’s stand on this, and if she still disagrees, you will need to obey your conscience when she passes, or ask her to relieve you of the responsibility and ask someone else to make the arrangements.

 

[Jeanne_S]

But is that in some way not honoring her? Or lying? If I tell her now that I’ll respect her wishes, then do what I feel is right after she passes-how is that right?

Yet,you will be honoring God and being faithful tonHis wishes for your Mom,IMHO

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m going to have to deal with this when my Mom passes. She is INSISTANT that I take her ashes to her favorite vacation spot. I had to push her pretty hard to have a Catholic funeral for my Dad. He also chose cremation, but his ashes have been interred at the veterans cemetery.

I don’t know how I’m going to deal when that time comes.

It is tricky.

 

[petronus]

The ban on cremation was abolished in 1963 .

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

One rather macabre custom that is becoming popular is having ashes put into little keepsakes or tiny urns like chess pieces or salt shakers, or even worse, are being fused into glass jewels to be worn. There is no respect for the dead anymore.

 

[dshix]

I thought they weren’t allowed to be cremated because of the resurrection of the dead, so how was this change allowed/ reasoned?

Only if they are dead.

 

[daponte2]

I would like to be cremated and have my ashes put in a sealed cremation urn, so my daughter would have something tangible to keep with her when I’m gone. I think this would bring peace of mind to her, my husband and myself as well.

It is my hope that by the time I’m ready to go, the Catholic stance on this issue will change. I don’t think God would like His people to be unduly troubled about this inevitable part of life.

 

[Phemie]

I would like to be cremated and have my ashes put in a sealed cremation urn, so my daughter would have something tangible to keep with her when I’m gone. I think this would be a comfort to her, and to me, too.

It is my hope that by the time I’m ready to go, the Catholic stance on this issue will change. I don’t think God would like His people to be unduly troubled about this inevitable part of life.:angel1::

I will always follow the rules of the Church but must admit that I personally don’t think there is anything disrespectful about scattering ashes in an area that was meaningful to the deceased. I’ve known at least one member of my parish whose ashes were scattered by the family after a funeral Mass in the presence of cremated remains – they were going to do it regardless of Church rules so they were simply asked to not officially announce that this was going to be done (in the Order of Service, for example).

OTOH, the idea of having my mother or father’s ashes in my house creeps me out to no end. I wouldn’t have their body there and I don’t see any difference in this case between a coffin with a body in the living room or an urn filled with ashes. It certainly wouldn’t bring me any comfort.

 

[petronus]

I thought they weren’t allowed to be cremated because of the resurrection of the dead, so how was this change allowed/ reasoned?

Where have you been all these years ?

The ban on cremation was lifted in 1963 . :yawn:

 

[maryjk]

Just to give everyone an idea on the difference in cost, I thought I would share this.

Two years ago, I lost both parents. (No, not at the same time, 6 months apart.)

Mom was cremated. We did not have a viewing, nor did we have a casket. The total charge for transporting the body to the funeral home and cremation was $3,000. Mom was buried with Dad. So, we didn’t have to pay for anything else for Mom’s burial.

Dad was traditionally buried. Because he died on a Wednesday and the funeral wasn’t until Tuesday, he was also embalmed. (No, it is not law that someone must be embalmed.) He, obviously, had a casket. But it was a low cost one. We did not have to pay for a burial plot, the vault, nor the opening or closing of the grave. We also did not have to pay for the headstone. (Dad was retired military.) His total cost to us was $7,000.

Yes, burial was more than twice cremation.

 

[Fairwinds]

and on the lighter side, the cremains of Hunter S. Thompson were partially loaded into a skyrocket. years ago, a trap shooter requested his some of his ashes be loaded into shotgun shells and his friends give him a last round of trap, it was done.

 

[andrewstx]

Embalming is required by law. I would hate to think of the nightmare of opening a mausoleum to entomb a body and be hit with the stench of un-embalmed corpses.

When looking at caskets for my dad’s funeral, there was a very nice plain, pine box for $600. Both my sister and I said “that’s the one for me!” Funerals and associated costs can be kept low if necessary.

Actually embalming is not required by law anywhere. That is just a myth promoted by the undertaking industry that has the most to gain financially by having people believe it,